Rogue River february 11th and 13th and 14th

MEGA STEELHEAD POST!

So instead of doing three posts, im doing three reports into one post.

Friday the 11th: I got to Denman Wildlife right around 1pm and right after i got my waders on at my car, my friend Jeremy pulled up and he had his fishing buddy Joe with him, and Joe’s buddy Heath came along too, just to watch us fish and have a good time. Joe hooked a nice little hatchery steelhead on his first cast surprisingly. I brought my net this so time, so i got to use it right away. It was a wild spawned out summer steelhead that had one eye. It was probably swimming downstream on its way back to the ocean. But since it was over 24 inches Joe decided to keep it. No one else caught a steelhead that day but i caught plenty of prehistoric rock fish on the botttom of the river. Ended up losing more spoons then id like to remember. But overall wasnt a bad day at the river met some cool folks and i got to watch a steelhead get caught.

Sunday the 13th. I pulled up to the parking lot of Denman in the afternoon and noticed more cars then usual, so i was kinda hoping there wouldnt be a bunch of people fishing my favorite hole. I was surprised when i got to my hole that no one was fishing there. So i fished the hole with various spoons for about 3-4 hours before i felt that magic tug. This steelhead shot out of the water like a rocket right after taking my spoon. And shortly after was unhooked and on its way up the river to spawn. The only time this little wild steelhead was out of the water was the one it jumped, i took special care to keep the fish in the water while i released it, so no pictures of this fish. I fished with and talked to many anglers that day and no other steelhead were caught except for a boat that floated by they said they had some luck. Another great day was had and was topped off with a fish about 4 hours into it. Met alot of people and everyone has been really friendly and helpful. Sundays have been good the past 2 weeks.

Valentines Day. Monday i got a call from my friend Louis. He said he missed work and fished all morning at a few different spots along the river and had no luck. So when i got to his house to pick him up to go back to the river at around 3 in the afternoon, he had decided he was too tired to go back and give it another go at the river. Around that time i was contemplating whether i should go fishing or not, then i got a call from Jeremy saying that his son Aaron and his buddy Dillon were down there fishing. So i said my good byes and was on my way to the Rogue River at the Denman Wildlife area. So when i got there i only had a couple hours left of day light, so i cut off the spoon that was tied on and put on a chartreuse and silver spoon on that i thought might be good. I had made probably about five casts when i got a strike, and like the last couple steehead i hooked into this one was another acrobatic steelhead. The thing with spoons is when the fish hits it they really hit it. Unlike drift fishing where its hard to tell the differnce from a bite and tapping the bottom. Spoon fishing is either a snag or a fish, no mistaking the bite, at least this is my understanding of it from the little time iv been spoon fishing for steelhead. Aaron and Dillon ran over to where i was and had grabbed my net, and they waited for me to bring the fish over to them so they could net it. The fish got close to them probably about five times and each time when it close it would make a run and peel a bunch of line. Well finally Aaron was able to net it and i got to tag another fish! This one went for 7lbs and 2 oz, the length of this Wild Rogue River buck was 28 inches. After bleeding and tagging the fish i wasnt too excited to keep on fishing, did alot of talking with some other anglers that came by. Gave some pointers to Aaron and i let him use the spoon i caught the steelhead on. No one else caught a steelhead that i seen. Guess im starting to get either good at fishing spoons or really lucky, either way im a very happy guy. Tight Lines!

The ones i use now are only 2 bucks a piece. But then i add a split ring and a barrel swivel. I could also take the treble hook off and add a single siwash hook, so i would snag up less. But iv yet to start doing that. Thanks Mel!

I was out today for a hour or so but slipped again and got soaked. Looking forward to tomorrow though. Iv heard about some fish being caught that far up but im not gonna fish up there unless the water gets blown out again. The water is getting better by the day, monday should be awesome unless it rains alot. I figured i might as well do something productive at the river if i cant fish it. Since this is my first year fishing the river im sticking with spoons until the summer on the rogue, so no roe for me 🙂 im either going to Cantrell Buckley or the ledges tomorrow so maybe see you! tight lines!

Shane, Nice work releasing the steelhead on the 13th! This makes me happy!! And really proud that you took care to keep it in the water. Thank you!
-k8
ps-good work catching the other fish, I just wish you released them!! =)